Screen to body ratio
This parameter shows how much of the tablet's front panel area is on the display. The higher the display/body ratio, the thinner the frames and the more compact the tablet (with the same diagonal), the more elegant and aesthetically pleasing it looks. This indicator is also important when holding the tablet with both hands at once (for example, in games):
thin frames or even
frameless models allow you to reach further with your fingers without removing your hands from the device.
CPU
The model name of the processor installed in the tablet.
The processor is the “heart” of the device. It is he who is responsible for performing all the computing operations necessary for the normal operation of the tablet, and largely determines the overall performance. Knowing the name of a specific processor model, you can easily find detailed information on it, incl. and comparison with other models.
The most popular chips these days are from
Qualcomm(in particular, the top solutions
Snapdragon 800 series and
Snapdragon 8 series),
MediaTek(budget and “mid-range”
MediaTek Helio processors and the line of advanced
MediaTek Dimensity chipsets with 5G support), and among Windows tablets
Intel processors (mainly the
Intel Core family) are often found. Quite a rarity are branded
Kirin processors from Huawei and Honor.
CPU speed
The clock speed of the processor installed in the tablet is actually the maximum number of operations performed by one processor core per second. This indicator is important for the speed of the system, but a high clock frequency in itself does not guarantee speed. The actual speed of the processor also depends on its architecture, the number of cores and many other features, and the overall speed of the device also depends on the amount of “RAM”, the installed OS, etc. Therefore, situations are not uncommon when
powerful advanced tablets have a lower CPU frequency than more modest models.
Storage capacity
The volume of the tablet's own built-in storage. The larger it is, the more information (programs, games, movies, photos, etc.) can be stored on the tablet without resorting to removable media, rewriting to other devices, etc. At the same time, the amount of built-in memory significantly affects the cost. Therefore, some models are available in several versions, differing only in the capacity of the drive. And the variety of built-in memory is quite wide: from
16 GB to
1024 GB with a 2-fold increase (
32 GB,
64 GB,
128 GB,
256 GB,
512 GB).
Note that this paragraph indicates the total amount of internal memory. The operating system and default programs also take up space in it; therefore, the volume of the drive actually available to the user will inevitably be less than the total.
Many tablets allow you to add memory cards to the built-in drive (see below). Such cards are relatively inexpensive, but they are much slower, and the ability to work with them may be limited by the manufacturer — for example, not all tablets with this function allow installing applications on removable media.
Max. memory card storage
The largest amount of memory card with which the tablet is able to work correctly. For more information about the cards themselves, see "Memory Card Slot"; here we note that capacious media often use advanced technologies that are not supported by early models, and sometimes tablets simply do not have enough power to process large amounts of data. Therefore, for the convenience of choosing in our catalog, the maximum supported volume is indicated.
In fact, there are cases when some devices may exceed the claimed characteristics — for example, work with 8 GB of media with the claimed 4 GB of maximum capacity. However, it is worth focus on official data, because. if they are exceeded, normal operation with the card is not guaranteed.
SIM card
The tablet's support
for SIM cards means that it supports mobile networks (3G, LTE or even 5G - depending on the model). At a minimum, installing a card allows you to connect to the Internet to always stay connected. Note that modern tablets can use several different types of SIM cards. Before choosing a SIM card, you need to check what size card is suitable for the device.
- micro-SIM. The largest type of SIM card widely used in modern devices: it has a size of 15x12 mm. It was introduced back in 2010; nowadays it is being replaced by more compact and advanced nano-SIM and eSIM. Note that, as a last resort, a card for the microSIM slot can be made by simply cutting a larger mini-SIM to the required dimensions. However, such an operation is associated with a certain risk and requires care, so it is better to contact your mobile operator to replace the SIM card with a suitable one.
- nano-SIM. The smallest form factor of classic (replaceable) SIM cards is 12x9 mm. In such cards, the frames are cut almost “to fit the chip itself,” so there is essentially nowhere to further reduce traditional SIM cards. This standard appeared back in 2012, but it is still extremely widespread.
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e-SIM. A SIM card of this type is an electronic module built directly into the device and cannot be replaced. To authorize in the mobile operator’s network, you need to make the appropriate setting
...s in the e-SIM; Moreover, such modules are able to save several sets of settings at once, which allows you to easily switch between different operators - no need to bother with physically replacing the SIM card, just change the profile in the settings. Another advantage of such modules is their compactness. However, before buying a phone with e-SIM, it doesn’t hurt to check whether this technology is supported by your mobile operator - even nowadays, not every network is compatible with such modules.
At the same time, the tablet is not always limited to one card slot. There are also options for two slots - this allows you to use two numbers at the same time in one device. The main convenience here is that to choose between two connection options, you don’t have to change the card in your tablet every time (and also risk losing the unused one). And the ability to choose may not be superfluous, given that different operators offer different communication standards, coverage areas and payment terms.Communication standard
— 3G. Support for third-generation mobile networks
(3G) by the modem. Usually it means work in UMTS networks (development of the GSM standard); Depending on the data transfer technologies supported by the network and the tablet itself, the maximum connection speed can vary from 2 to 70 Mbps. This is comparable to the speed of terrestrial Internet connection channels, so 3G connection can be comfortably used for web surfing, downloading files, watching streaming video, video calling, etc. In many models, classic voice calls to mobile and landline numbers are also available; most often these are devices with a small diagonal, which allows you to hold the tablet to your ear like a regular phone.
— 4G (LTE). Tablet support for 4th generation mobile communications —
4G(LTE). Such a connection provides data transfer speeds up to 173 Mbps according to the official specification (1 Gbps in the future), which gives even more comfort when surfing the Internet and other similar tasks than in 3G networks. In many LTE-tablets, classic voice calls to mobile and landline numbers are also available; most often these are devices with a small diagonal, which allows you to hold the tablet to your ear like a regular phone.
Note that the implementation of LTE in different countries and even regions is uneven, so before buying a tablet with such a module, it's ok to clarify the availability of coverage.<
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— 5G. Further, after 4G, the development of mobile communication standards. In the official specifications of this generation, a peak speed of 20 Gbps for reception and 10 Gbps for transmission, guaranteed reception and transmission speeds (at high network load) of 100 and 50 Mbps, respectively, as well as a number of solutions aimed at increasing reliability and overall communication quality. A set of such solutions includes, in particular, multi-element antenna arrays (Massive MIMO) and beamforming technologies (Beamforming) at base stations, as well as the possibility of direct communication between subscriber devices. With all this, this standard allows to reduce energy consumption in comparison with its predecessors.
Separately, it is worth touching on rumors about the dangers of 5G communications for health. According to modern scientific data, such a connection does not pose a danger to the human body, and the rumors mentioned are conspiracy theories that are not supported by any weighty arguments.More features
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FM receiver. A feature that allows you to listen to FM radio on your tablet. It should be borne in mind that for reliable reception, you may need to connect wired headphones (usually via a
3.5 mm mini-Jack connector) - their cable in this case will play the role of an antenna.
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Fingerprint scanner. Fingerprint sensor. Used to recognize the user in appropriate situations: when unlocking the tablet, when authorizing in different accounts, when confirming payments, etc. It can be located in different places on the tablet - in front, behind, on the side, on the screen. This authentication method is much more convenient and safer than passwords: they can be forgotten or accidentally opened to strangers, while the finger is not lost, and it is very difficult to fake a fingerprint.
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3D face scanner. A special technology for recognizing the user's face - not just by photographing, but by building a three-dimensional model of the face based on data from a special module on the front panel. This technology is constantly being improved, in our time it is able to take into account the change in hairstyles and facial hair, the presence of glasses, makeup, etc. At the same time, the recognition of twins and children's faces still remains weak points (they have fewer individual features than adults ). The main use of a face
...scanner is authentication when unlocking a tablet, entering applications, making payments, etc. At the same time, other, more original use cases are possible. For example, in some applications, the face scanner reads the user's facial expressions, and then this facial expression is repeated by a smiley on the screen.
- Gyroscope. A device that tracks the rotation of the tablet in space. Modern gyroscopes work on all three axes and are able to determine both the speed and the angle of deviation. This expands the control of the tablet, allowing you to give commands by tilting the device in one direction or another; This feature is especially popular in games.